Liverpool's Fernando Torres is being linked with a big-money move to Chelsea.

With the wheeling and dealing of football's transfer deadline day in full swing, Europe's top clubs have the last chance to strengthen their squads for the challenges ahead.

But with the stakes high, an ill-timed gamble in an inflated transfer market can lead to a downturn in a team's fortunes and it's significant that the real giants of club football - the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United - rarely make permanent signings in mid-season.

Jose Mourinho's Real did pick up Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City on loan, and with the Togo international making his debut promptly lost at Osasuna Sunday night to all but end their La Liga title hopes.

With the economic downturn and new UEFA rulings on "financial fair play," spending this window looked set to fall short of the near $200 million spent by English Premier League clubs alone 2008.

But it's significant that most of the window's biggest signings to date have been in the EPL, with Edin Dzeko moving to cash-rich Manchester City from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg for 31 million euros ($42 million) and Darren Bent switching from Sunderland for league rivals Aston Villa for 28 million euros ($38 million).

Much of the deadline-day interest has focused on Chelsea's pursuit of Fernando Torres, with honorable mentions for the cluster of clubs who want to get their hands on Newcastle's Andy Carroll and Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid.

With Torres reportedly set leave Liverpool, the Reds have sealed the signing of Uruguay sharpshooter Luis Suarez from Ajax for a relatively cut-price 26.5m euros ($36 million).

That may prove to be the best signing of all, as he's scored at nearly a goal a game for the Dutch giants, but who do you think will be the best signing of the January transfer window ?

With deals set to be completed right up to the 2300 GMT Monday deadline, leave your comments below.

Liverpool land Luis Suarez in £22.7m deal ..woow i hope he is not just coming to be another second keeper after what happen in south africa...i hope he will not bite Terry or dawson...Torress will add to chelsea attack nothing will change ..am a chelsea fan but the best signing is going to be my bitting friend suarez ....

Best signing will be Andy Carrol and Luiz Suarez to Liverpool ..thats a formidable attacking line up with both the players young and proven goal scorers..they will continue to grow in tandem.

Torres will not be great at Chelsea as he will have to fight it out with Drogba and Anelka and they will be supported by aging midfield team ....i hope Torres rots there...
Another great signing will be Stephen Ireland to Newcastle...Ireland will be more attack oriented with the experienced Nolana nd Barton in support ..

I'd say good riddance to Torres if I was a Liverpool fan. He was always whining, alway injured, and as became clear with his transfer request, he had no heart for the fight, That is not a Liverpool player now or ever! Andy Carroll is in the great Liverpool tradition of a Toshack or a Rush. Tall and game, with good feet for a big man. It will be interesting to see how he develops under King Kenny who was a master at holding the ball up and bringing players into the game while also being a great goalscorer himself. He also knows what being a Red really means. Torres at Chelsea should also be interesting as Ancellotti will now have to deal with two sulkers instead of just Anelka, and if Drogba throws a moody too because he didn't get a move to Real Madrid or Marseille what a happy dressing room it will be.

Selling 1 striker that is worth 2 strikers with almost the same quality is a safe move for Liverpool. I am sure with this move, Liverpool will improve
and probably back to its best performance in the near future.

In my opinion, Bent, Carol and probably Dzeko are the simply the best signings. Torres will have to compete with a very tough and established Chelsea strike force. Any preference of Torres ahead of the already established guys will undermine the team and hence their overall performance. Look to Real Madrid - the Ronaldo example.
The fans will not allow Suarez to plan and I don't see him replicating any of his previous glories at Liverpool. Adebayor is like an orphan who needs parental care. Otherwise he will feel lonely and will not perform with conviction.

the best signig is torres from liverpool to chelsea be coz chelsea is not a team that need a defender that much but also chelsea need independet striker like torres. compere that team resault 2-2 but if striker line is poweful they going to score more. thanks

Lets be objective people, Torres is as formidable as always, plus he was starting to get his 'groove back'. That said, he he still wasn't firing on all cylinders for the Reds and with cashing on hm for 50+ millions and getting Suarez & Carroll, my bet is on Liverpool coming out winners on the winter transfer window. wish him the best in his endevours but not against Liverpool. Hail King Kenny and his Knights YNWA!

Diffenatly the best decision we have made since the sacking of Roy, Torres is a ageing striker will certainly suit chelsea and their 30-year-average squad while we got the most contraversial guy at the soccer world cup 2010 and Englands next NO. 9. I'll say bravo to Mr. Cammolli and the LFC Board!!!!

Too early to castigate Torres because chelsea lost to liverpool the loss may have been part of the conditions to give Liverpool three points to release Torres to chelsea, forget all these Mafians in football circle, too much cash is involve with many huge bets, they all know what they are doing. There are so many dirty deals and fix results in football the bottom line is cash.

Post a comment

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.